Away on the Mountainside Prologue

Below contains in-depth information for the prologue of Away on the Mountainside. If you are looking for a shorter, more general summary, see the main page or the cliffnotes page.

Chapter Summary
The chapter opens with Twilightfeather walking across blood-stained battleground towards Cherrystar. Cherrystar is sitting on a large stone. There is a bandage wrapped around her leg, and Twilightfeather notices this because he is the one who put it there. Cherrystar greets Twilightfeather, but keeps her back turned to him, as she instinctively knows it is him. She asks how the injured cats are doing, and Twilightfeather replies that Nightstorm, Eaglepaw, and Fleckheart are going to be fine. Fleckheart, who is pregnant, is a topic of concern, but he notes that her kits were not harmed. Cherrystar comments that Red-Tails have no morals.

Twilightfeather says he hopes Cherrystar realizes how serious the situation is. This is when he first suggests leaving their territory and moving camp. Cherrystar refuses, asking him where they would go, as they have so many cats. Twilightfeather suggests finding somewhere beyond the mountains, but Cherrystar refuses that as well, saying that they would be risking the lives of their weakest if they went. Twilightfeather retorts that they are risking their lives now, and they both go silent.

Twilightfeather remarks that it has been a while since the Ancestors have sent him a message. Cherrystar says that she thought they were usually silent, and asks Twilightfeather if it is common for him to get messages. Twilightfeather replies that it is unusual, and he usually gets a sign from them a few times every few months, but now they are farther apart. They go silent again.

Suddenly, Twilightfeather's eyes begin to glow as he stares up at the stars. Cherrystar watches him carefully, and it is noted that she has only seen something like this happen once before when she was a Rabbit Foot. Once it is over, she asks Twilightfeather what he saw. He says that he saw an image of a swallow with a bright red tail clasped in its beak.

Major

 * Cherrystar
 * Twilightfeather

Minor

 * Nightstorm
 * Eaglepaw
 * Fleckheart

Errors

 * Eaglepaw is mistakenly referred to as "he."

Omens

 * A swallow is seen with a bright, fluffy red tail clutched in its beak.